Judge Carl E. Stewart
The walls of Judge Carl E. Stewart's office are covered with awards, commendations and photos that are the result of his work, both on the bench and in the community. As a judge for the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Stewart makes important decisions that affect lives and determine legal precedence. However, he takes the work he does off the bench very seriously, and is happy for the opportunities his position gives him to bring about positive change.
It was that desire to bring about change that first led him to the legal profession. He grew up in the Lakeside and Allendale neighborhoods of Shreveport in the 1950s and '60s. During those turbulent times, lawyers were a prominent part of the landscape, managing the situation and effecting change peacefully through the courts, he said.
"The kinds of struggles people had, not necessarily criminally, were things that were better if they had a lawyer — legal representation," Stewart said. "My father always encouraged me and my two brothers to reach out and help other people in our climb upward. We have a family ethos of launching out and trying to achieve in a profession that gives us an opportunity to give back to the community."
Stewart followed in the footsteps of his older bother and attended law school at Loyola. His younger brother serves as a judge for the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in Shreveport.
"We can be involved in a wide variety of civic and community activities where our legal skills can be of benefit. There was a fostering in the home environment of not just looking for personal or material achievement, but also looking for a way to better our surroundings. The legal profession fits neatly with being able to do that."
Since first being elected to the bench in 1985, Stewart has received many invitations to speak at schools, assemblies and meetings. He avails himself of these opportunities to reach out, especially to the young, he said.
"Young people in particular, and certainly African-American young people, just need to be overwhelmed with as many positive images and positive messages about achievement as they possibly can. Sometimes if they see people that they can identify with, who grew up in same kind of neighborhood, they can see that achievement is a viable alternative to a lot of other things."
Although his work as a federal judge keeps him very busy, Stewart makes time to serve on the Centenary College board of trustees; the LSUS Chancellor's Advisory Committee; and is a board member of the Norwela Council Boy Scouts of America. Stewart considers the work he has done with the Boy Scouts to be one of his proudest accomplishments.
"In the mid-80s, I got directly involved with (fostering the promotion of scouting), hands-on. We tried to help resurrect scouting in the African-American community"» Not because scouting is the end-all be-all, or even for every kid, but so many young fellows don't have positive reinforcements in their lives. I have found scouting is one of the avenues that helps connect committed male leaders with young boys in positive environments."
ShreveportTimes.com
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071230/OPINION03/712290309/1058/OPINION03
